Framing square template device

ABSTRACT

A framing square with surfaces for vertical and horizontal studs, that is foldable when not used.

This application claims priority from Provisional application No. 62/509,628, filed May 22, 2017; the entire contents of which are herewith incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

Wall framing is usually done by placing studs in a layout on the ground or table, cut to size and assembled into a wall section. The completed wall section is then raised to its final position as a wall. Framing is done by nailing top and bottom plates into studs. The studs can be 2×4 or 2×6 wood boards positioned horizontally in between the vertical plates. Typically these studs are spaced either 16 inch on center, or 24 inches on center. The first and last studs are differently spaced; e.g., for a 16 inch on center system, they are nailed at 15.25 inch on center, since the whole stud is between the top and bottom plates.

In the prior art, the operator has put the top and bottom plates next to each other and marked positions of vertical studs on these plates. A square is used to draw a line with an X next to it to mark the position of the stud either to the left side or right side of the line. The operator positions the stud in a perpendicular position to the plate, holds it firmly, and nails these with a nail: by hand or a nail gun on the marked spot. The same procedure is repeated for every stud.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a way of framing using a special framing square. The framing square forms a template that forms a guide to align the horizontal portions of a wall stud with the vertical studs, and to facilitate fastening these together, while maintaining that alignment.

In an embodiment, the template is held in place and positions hold the vertical studs in place relative to the horizontal studs, while they are attached. In an embodiment, the device can be flipped over, to double its length.

An alternative embodiment uses a framing device hinged at its central portion, and opened to double its length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The different figures show different embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment, partly folded;

FIG. 2 shows a magnetic connector;

FIG. 3 shows the hinge

FIG. 4 shows the device as folded;

FIG. 5 shows the locations of the stud holders;

FIG. 6 shows the parts when folded;

FIG. 7 shows the parts with studs attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment is shown in FIG. 1, which shows the first embodiment 100 of the framing square template formed of a solid bar 100 that is in the shape of the T, having a flat part 105, and a T part extending T-shaped extending tab 106. The t-shaped extending part 106 includes stud holding features such as 110 spaced there along. The stud holding features 110 are shown in further detail in FIG. 2.

Each of the stud holding features includes first and second surfaces 210, 211 which are one and a half inch openings that represent the locations of the vertical stud, adapted to hold a stud in exactly the right location, where the right location is centered on the spot 200 along the flat plate 106. The flat plate 106 defines surfaces such as 230, 232 along which a horizontal studs will be held. Therefore, the horizontal stud is held along the axis extending between the surfaces 230, 232. The vertical stud is held between the surfaces 210, 211, and the vertical and horizontal studs are fastened into place relative to one another.

The framing template includes the stud holding features 110 in exactly the right locations to hold the studs. The inventors recognize that the first stud is located at the edge of the plate and not on center, and hence has a different spacing of studs than the other studs. That is, the distance between the first stud location 200 and the second stud location 220 is 15.25 inches. The studs are nominally spaced 16 inches on center, and hence the distance between the second stud location 220 in the 3^(rd) stud location 230 is exactly 16 inches. The last stud location also includes a 15.25 inch on center.

In operation, the user can place a 2×4 or 2×6 plate (horizontal stud) along the surfaces 230, 232, being held by the T-shaped device. The vertical studs are then located on top of the flat plate, and allowing the windows 212 between the surfaces to 10, 211 to be used as a window for the operator to place the nails into the middle of the windows. The framing device holds these at a 90° angle, and allows nailing together the horizontal or the vertical studs to the horizontal studs.

FIGS. 3A and 3B, for example, shows how the plate 300 can be held on top of the surfaces such as 302 of the framing device, and then the vertical studs such as 310 are held between the surfaces 210, 211 and can be nailed using the window area 212.

Note in one embodiment that the framing stud of the first embodiment of FIGS. 1-3B has surfaces for holding the studs at both sides, so that the device can be turned over. For example, the surfaces 211, 210 have corresponding opposite surfaces shown as 213 214. An alternative embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 4-5 forms a single ended template which is foldable and can be extended to extend to double its initial length.

This embodiment forms the device as a right angle shaped template which is foldable. In this device 400, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the device folds in half on a central hinge shown as 500, enabling the frame as unfolded to be used to frame an 8 foot section of wall. Unlike the first embodiment, the second embodiment includes stud holding structure only on one of the two surfaces. Because this frame unfolds, a four foot frame can unfold to 8 feet to be used for a complete 8 foot section of wall. The framing square includes plural different stud holding features such as 410 each of which includes a first vertical holding feature and a second vertical holding surface 414. The vertical studs or “plates” are placed in the window 413 between the two holding surfaces 410, 412 and 414. The stud 415 is placed in the stud holding surface, held by the surfaces such as 420 at the location of the vertical stud. This leaves a window 425 into which the user can nail to hold the horizontal studs in to the plate/vertical stud 430. The vertical stud 430 is held between the surfaces 410 and 412 of the stud holding feature 422.

The main plate 401 is right angle shaped, so it can sit on the edge of a stud 415. The spacings are the same as those in the first embodiment, namely 15¼ inch spacing between edge sections such as 403 and center studs such as 404, and 16 on center spacing between center studs such as 404 and 402. In addition, however, there are additional stud holding features such as 405 in between the 16 inch on center pieces, to enable building a wall which has studs which are 24 inches on center. At the location of each stud, there are surfaces 410, 411, that enable locating the studs. The stud is located between the surfaces 410, 411, and then there is a nailing window 415 through which the user can mail from the horizontal studs, 405, into the vertical studs such as 420 which are located by the framing square. When the framing square is folded in half, the magnetic catches 451 at the end are also held together and the stud holding parts face away from one another in FIG. 6, so that the square folds flat.

FIG. 5 illustrates the framing square from a different angle showing the different distances between the different stud holding cards. The distance between the first stud holding part 500 and the second stud holding part 502 is 15¼ inches. However, there is also a stud holding part for 24 inch centers at 504, but the distance between the first stud holding part and the second stud holding part is 23.25 inches. The distance between two adjacent 16 on center stud holding part such as 506, 508 however is 16 inches. The framing square hinges on the hinge part 500, and magnet part 451 holds 2 magnet parts 452 to hold it in the folded position.

Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A framing square for forming a wall, comprising: a first flat surface, having surfaces for holding a plate board; at each of a plurality of stud location, a stud holding part, holding including stud holding surfaces that hold to two sides of a stud that is positioned at a substantially right angle to the plate board, said stud holding surfaces adjacent to an indentation in the plate board through which nailing can be carried out, said stud holding part located at an end part of the framing square, and at 15¼ inches from the end part of the framing square, and at least at 16 inch centers from the 2^(nd) stud holding part.
 2. The framing square as in claim 1, wherein the flat surface includes 2 hinged flat surfaces, which hold together into a folded position relative to one another, and open to form an extended flat surface.
 3. The flaming square as in claim 2, wherein the flat surface when extended is 8 feet long.
 4. The framing square as in claim 3, wherein the stud holding surfaces are located only on one side of the framing square.
 5. A framing square for forming a wall, comprising: a surface for holding a plate stud; multiple surfaces along the surface at set spacings, for holding vertical studs perpendicular to the plate stud at said set spacings, and having openings in the surface for allowing nailing into the plate stud and into the vertical studs, wherein the surface is foldable when not used and the multiple surfaces when folded face away from one another.
 6. The framing square as in claim 5, wherein the surface is 8 feet long when unfolded. 